RE: Sikhs are deeply concerned by recent comments about Canada-India relationship

13 Jeth, Nanakshahi 557 | May 26, 2025 CE
Honourable Minister Anita Anand
Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
anita.anand@international.gc.ca

Dear Honourable Minister Anand:

RE: Sikhs are deeply concerned by recent comments about Canada-India relationship

I write to you today with profound concern following your public statement thanking the Indian Minister of External Affairs for “productive discussions” aimed at “strengthening Canada-India ties, deepening our economic cooperation, and advancing shared priorities.”

While we understand the Government’s need to engage with diverse international partners to strengthen Canada’s economy, your public comments suggest an alarming prioritization of economic interests above fundamental issues of justice, accountability, and sovereignty. These signals, devoid of clear calls for accountability and justice, are deeply troubling given the overwhelming evidence of India’s sustained and aggressive interference in Canadian democratic institutions, violent campaigns targeting Sikhs in Canada, and direct involvement in the assassination of Shaheed Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.

Over the past year, explicit statements from officials like Deputy Minister David Morrison have conclusively established that senior Indian officials–including India’s Home Affairs Minister, Amit Shah–directly coordinated and oversaw the violent activities explicitly targeting the Sikh community. This was a shocking violation of the most basic norms of international law and those responsible must be held accountable.

The Hogue Commission and various Canadian agencies have unequivocally documented India’s extensive foreign interference operations, including attempts to manipulate Canadian electoral outcomes, extensive disinformation campaigns against Canadian officials, and violent activities targeting a vulnerable minority community.

Special Rapporteurs of the United Nations Human Rights Council have also expressed grave concern about the “continuing, systematic attacks by Indian authorities on Sikh activists in Canada, the United States, and other countries, including private and public harassment and intimidation, threats of violence and death, and the planning of physical attacks.

Your public comments not only allow India to continue undermining Canadian sovereignty and the foundations of the rules-based order, but also sends a dangerous message to communities across Canada that continue to face targeted threats–including the “800,000 members of the Sikh diaspora” that Justice Hogue found are the targets of India’s activities. To this day, numerous members of our community continue to receive warnings from Canadian agencies regarding the ongoing threat to their lives as they continue to be targeted by agents of the Government of India. This is one of the many reasons Sikhs have been calling for a public inquiry into the assassination of Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar and India’s ongoing violent activities in Canada.

Unfortunately, your remarks appear to disregard the lived reality of Sikhs in Canada who have endured violence, coercion, intimidation, and systematic disinformation campaigns orchestrated directly by agents of the Indian government.

We strongly urge your office and the Government of Canada to:
Publicly clarify the Government’s commitment to demand accountability from India for its documented interference and violent acts on Canadian soil.
Clearly condition any restoration of diplomatic ties or economic engagement on India’s cooperation with criminal investigations in Canada, and other demonstrable reforms, including respecting human rights, ceasing transnational repression, and ending disinformation campaigns against Canadian officials and communities.
Implement targeted sanctions against Indian officials, including Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah and others credibly linked to orchestrating violence and interference in Canada.

We trust you will recognize the gravity of the situation and ensure the fundamental rights and safety of Canadian institutions and citizens over short-term diplomatic expediency. Canada’s Sikh community has consistently called for a principled foreign policy rooted in accountability and justice that can deliver shared prosperity for all Canadians. To achieve this, we would like to urgently meet with your office to discuss how we can collectively work towards the shared goals of building a prosperous and secure Canada.

Respectfully,

Moninder Singh
National Spokesperson
Sikh Federation (Canada)
info@sikhfederation.ca

Enclosed:
UN Communication: AL IND 10/2024
Indian Response: GEN/PMI/353/5/2025

cc:
Prime Minister Mark Carney
Honourable Pierre Polievre, Leader of the Official Opposition
Honourable Don Davies, Interim Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada
Honourable Yves-François Blanchet, Leader of Bloc Québécois